This Story is About...

Share This Story On...

The Stars have hired Joe McDonnell as their new director of amateur scouting and Mark Leach as one of the head scouts, Stars GM Jim Nill confirmed Saturday. Both worked under Nill in the Detroit Red Wings system, but both were without contracts and free to sign with any team.

"They're great at their jobs and I asked if they were interested, and they had hard decisions,'' Nill said. "We're very lucky to get them.''

Former Stars GM Joe Nieuwendk fired Tim Bernhardt as director of amateur scouting in 2011, and never replaced him. Assistant GM Les Jackson filled the role for the past two seasons, but will be able to step back now and do more work with the pros and the Texas Stars. In addition, the Stars lost scout Shane Churla to Montreal in the spring, and Leach helps fill his void.

McDonnell has been a scout with the Red Wings since 1995 and director of amateur scouting there since 2003. Leach has worked with the Red Wings since 1998. Leach is based on the East Coast, while Stars scout Dennis Holland is based in the West for the Stars. They will be the top scouts reporting to McDonnell, Nill said.